Neighborhood driving and parking
Please help the Will Rogers community be courteous to our neighbors! It is a good time to remind our grown-ups to be mindful of your driving and parking in the neighborhood. Please read the street signs to ensure you are parked in the correct place.
This is a gentle reminder during drop-off and pick-up at school to refrain from:
- Blocking home driveways
- Double parking
- Parking illegally and leaving your your car unattended
*We have seen an increase in parking enforcement officers; avoid receiving a ticket. More importantly, help us keep our students and families safe as they travel to and from WRLC!
WRLC CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Will Rogers Learning Community Early Education Building Project
Phase 1 of the Campus Plan
(February 2024 Update)
Construction of the new early education building, and new track and field is underway at Will Rogers Learning Community. A groundbreaking ceremony held on Dec. 8, 2023 kicked off the start of Phase 1 of the Rogers’ Campus Plan.
The project will include: outdoor learning space adjacent to seven classrooms, new basketball courts, handball walls and turf field.
Current construction:
The heavy rains delayed progress. However, with the weather clearing up construction crews have resumed work.
Shaded Structures: Contractor have installed four new shaded structures adjacent to the small grass play area. Some asphalt repair will be completed near the shaded structures in later February 2024.
A. Temporary Restrooms: Contractor has trenched and installed underground electrical and plumbing to service a portable restroom located on the north side of the school. This will be for the use of parents and staff during after-school programs.
B. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant Ramp and Access: Crews are preparing and installing footings for a new entry gate and (ADA) ramp that is located in the staff parking lot.
C. Site Demolition: Construction crews are currently demolishing an outdoor restroom, two portable classrooms and ball walls. Asphalt and soil removal will commence mid-February 2024.
D. Site Utilities: Contractor is working on a pathway for main site electrical to the new early education building.
E. City Utilities Service: Construction crews are coordinating with the City of Santa Monica to relocate pedestrian crosswalks, driveways and connections to the new utilities. That work will begin March 2024.
Thank you for your on-going patience and understanding during the construction process.
For more information on Rogers campus projects please contact Simpson & Simpson Consultant Senior Construction Operations Liaison Chris Emmett at cemmett@smmusd.org.
Santa Monica Ed Foundation Final Results: Thank you to our incredible community and volunteers for a show of strength and support around the final Ed Foundation push to fund next year’s enrichment programs. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and collaboration have truly made a significant impact, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results.
During the January Campaign, we saw an incredible response from our Santa Monica community, with 680 donors contributing a total of $283,000 to the Ed Foundation. Roger's participation soared from 28% to 35%! This achievement reflects the outstanding teamwork and commitment each one of you brought to the table.
Thank you once again for your tireless support for Rogers students and the broader Santa Monica public school community. The extremely generous check from the PTA is amazing and makes a BIG impact for our students. Here's to continued success and collaboration!
4th and 5th Grade MATH CLUB OPPORTUNITY!
We had a great show of interest in the MATH CLUB. If you submitted a permission slip by the deadline on 2/9, you will receive an email confirmation this week.
WHEN: Math Club will meet once a week, every Thursday morning from Feb. 15th - May 2nd, 2024.
WHERE: Room 505
TIME: We'll gather at school for math magic between 7:45 a.m.- 8:20 a.m.
What to Expect:
We promise you thrilling challenges, brain-teasing puzzles, and a fresh perspective on the world of mathematics.
We will offer breakfast and healthy snacks to keep those brain cells fueled and ready for action.
The culminating event for Math Club is participation in a local Math Olympiad Contest. Students will have an opportunity to compete against other schools in our area.
Classes will be held before school once a week for 10-12 sessions.
There is no cost associated. All the materials needed will be provided by the school.
Math Club will be facilitated by a WRLC teacher and parent volunteers.
Why Join: Because math is not just about numbers; it's an adventure waiting to be explored! Get ready to embark on a journey filled with fun, friends, and fascinating mathematical discoveries.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program of Inquiry Units of Study
Most grade levels are working on either their 3rd or 4th unit. Here's what each grade level worked on this past week.
Kindergarten - The students came to the STEM Lab to build ramps. They learned that force can make something move a long or short distance (See pictures below).
First Grade - The students came to the STEM Lab to learn about animal defenses. They also learned how animals use their structure for protection (See pictures below).
Second Grade - The students learned about how landforms change. They came to the STEM Lab to do a chalk model activity (See pictures below).
Third Grade - The students finalized their animal research projects and shared their learning.
Fourth Grade - The students learned about conquistadors. They also engaged in a conversation about the book 'I am Not a Number.' They also began their research projects for their current unit.
Fifth Grade - The students began learning about and researching leaders who made contributions during the Civil Rights Movement.
5th Grade Pali Camp Updates
The 5th grade is scheduled to attend Pali camp May 1-3, 2024 (Wednesday-Friday).
Please be sure you have completed your students intent to attend form and submitted it to the front office or your child's classroom teacher. It was due on Friday, Feb. 2nd! As we begin to make plans, we need to have a correct headcount of attending students.
If you were unable to attend the Pali Camp Information meeting last week below is the recording.
Topic: Pali Camp Zoom Meeting
Date: Jan 25, 2024 6:21 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Passcode: 5.4Gn86P
THANK YOU TO SM ASSISTANCE LEAGUE!
Assistance League of Santa Monica (ALSM) is a non-profit whose volunteers are dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. These programs include providing camp scholarships, backpacks with school supplies, eye examinations and glasses, and over $100,000 in college scholarships annually.
Many students at Will Rogers Elementary School have been recipients of these programs. This year, for example, ALSM is sponsoring winter science camp for several of Will Rogers's 5th graders.
ALSM funds its programs through its Thrift Shop, which has consistently been voted the best in Santa Monica by the SM Daily Press. Please check out the shop at 1453 15th Street from 11-3 Thursday and Friday, and 10-2 Saturday. Stop by to find great bargains and help support Will Rogers's students.
We greatly appreciate Mrs. Susan Ferrell, from the Santa Monica Assistance League for her genuine care and interest in all our students in helping them fulfill their dreams experiencing the great outdoors camping, connecting with nature and being with their friends. We are grateful to announce that once again the SM Assistance League will donate funds for our 5th grade trip Pali Camp.
"Oops, I forgot!" table - PLEASE SHARE AND USE
We have had an increase in requests from parents asking us to call classrooms to relay messages or have their child pick-up an item they left at home. Each time we call, we interrupt instruction which is disruptive to the students. Help us reduce these interruptions.
Please communicate the "Oops, I forgot table" plan with your child, so they know there is place for parents to drop-off items they may have left at home!
Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. It is located outside the main office.
Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent may drop it off in the office. We will place their labeled item on the "Oops, I forgot table." During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for a forgotten item.
Counseling Services at WRLC
We have several community partnerships affording us the opportunity to provide school-based therapy services to the students at Rogers. If you are interested in this service, please reach out to your classroom teacher. We are fortunate to expand our services by offering free, tele-health counseling service through Hazel. Read more about this service below.
PROPOSITION 28: Thank you CA voters!
In November 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, to provide additional funding to “supplement arts education programs” in schools. Proposition 28 will provide annual funding for arts education programs. The California Department of Education (CDE) anticipates providing these funds to SMMUSD for use beginning the 2024-25 school year. Allocated funds will be available for use for up to three years. The Prop 28 funds will come EVERY year as it was passed by California voters to support ongoing funding for arts education.
WRLC Advocacy groups such as School Site Council, ELAC and PTA have provided input to the school on the best use of these funds to enhance our existing arts programming. More weeks of visual arts instruction and TK-2 music or dance are some of the highly requested ways we will enhance arts education at Will Rogers!
You are invited! SMMUSD: Special Education Parent Workshop Dates
- February 8th at 9 a.m. at Roosevelt “Preschool and Kindergarten Programs and Readiness”
- March 12th at 4:30 p.m. at Webster Elementary “How to prepare for your child to transition to their next school”
- May 15th at 5:30 p.m. at Grant Elementary “Special Education Year in Review”
Fechas de los talleres de educación especial para los padres
- 8 de febrero a las 9 a.m. en Roosevelt "Programas y preparación para la preprimaria y jardín de niños"
- 12 de marzo a las 4:30 p.m. en Webster Elementary "Cómo prepararse para la transición de su hijo a su próxima escuela"
- 15 de mayo a las 5:30 p.m. en la primaria Grant Elementary "Resumen del Año de Educación Especial"
Contact Us
Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM